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(No Model.) '6 sheets sheet 1. W. RHODES. AMMUNITION HOIST FOR SHIPS.

No. 587,330. PatentedAug. 3,1897.

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(No Model) I 6 Sheets- Sheet 3.

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AMMUNITION HOIST FOR SHIPS.

No. 587,330. Patented Aug."3,189'7 WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

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W. RHODES. AMMUNITION HOIST FOR SHIPS.

Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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6 SheetsSheet 5.

Patented Aug. 3,1897.

{No.Model.)

W. RHODES. AMMUNITION HOIST FOR SHIPS.

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(No Model.)

W. RHODES. AMMUNITION HOIST FOR SHIPS.

PatentedAugQ 3, 1897-.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VESLEY RHODES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMMUNITION-HOIST FOR SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,330, dated August3, 1897.

Application filed March 26, 1897. Serial No. 629,316. (No model.)

To all whom it 7771/17/ concern:

Be it known that I, \VESLEY RHODES, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAmmunition-Hoists for Ships, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to hoists employed on ships to raise andlower merchandise, and other articles, between the various decks, orbetween the hold and any particular deck,-and relates, particularly,tothe class of devices which are employed upon battle ships and known asammunition hoists, and which are mechanisms operating by the aid ofendless chains or equivalent carriers to raise ammunition from themagazine or handling room of a ship to any one of its decks.

The object of my invention is the construction of a ships hoist,--particularly adapted for the handling of ammunition boxes andoperative between the magazine or handling room and any particulardeck,-which shall be so organized and arranged that when it is not inuse, the discharging hatch of the discharge or delivery deck with whichthe hoist operates may be closed by a'scuttle or cover which shall leavethe deck flush and free from all obstruction ;-in which, also, provisionis made for maintaining the endless elevating chains tight,and foradjusting them when they become slackened, without interference with themotive or driving gearing;in which, also, efficientprovision is madeagainst the liability of the boxes, in the movement of the ship, to failto enter the tube or casing of the hoist, to fall from the hoist, or tobecome jammed with respect to the various hatch or. other openingsthrough which the hoist carrier may extend;-in which, also, specialfacility is afforded not only for elevating, but also for lowering, theboxes or shells from the deck to the magazine or handling room ;.and,which, finally, while being light, simple, and inexpensive inconstruction, shall not only occupy less space than hoists heretoforeused, and be adapted to be set up for working either fore or aft orathwart-ships, but shall also be less liable to be damaged by the shotof an enemy.

' specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly sectional, of ahoist embodying my improvements, and

particularly adapted for application between two adjacent decks.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the same, sight being taken fromthe left hand side of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the hoist,illustrating the application to the hoist casing of the deflectingplate.

Figure 4L is a fragmentary end or face view of the deflecting platerepresent-ed in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of. the basal portion of the devicesrepresented in Figure 3, section being supposed in the plane of thedotted line 55 upon said Figure Figure 6 is a fragmentary sideelevational view of the chain-adjusting devices represented in Figure 5,the section being supposed in the plane of the dotted line 6-6 upon saidFigure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation of the upper portionof the hoist the lower portion of which is represented in Figure 3, thescuttle being removed and the discharge plate being in its elevated orworking position.

Figure Sis a view similar to Figure 7 of the same parts, with thescuttle in place within. the hatch and the discharge plate dropped andout of operative position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary end sectional elevational view of the partsrepresented in Figure 7, viewed from the left hand side of said figure,and section being supposed through the shaft-boxings of shaft 0 andthrough the casing N. 7

Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly sectional, of a portionof the parts represented in Figures 7 and 9, section being supposed inthe plane of the dotted lines 10- 10 upon said Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view in perspective of one of the carrying or hoistingplates.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings,

A represents the magazine deck and A the delivery or discharge deck of aship, between which my hoisting devices are shown applied.

Referring, for simpler explanation, first, to the constructionrepresented in Figures 1 and 2,B B are a pair of parallel correspondentendless chains whichtogether constitute the lifting carrier or elevatingmechanism proper of the apparatus, and which are adapted to becontinuously operated to travel in one direction.

I prefer to employ chains of the sprocket type, but do not exclude otherforms of chain, or endless ropes, belts, or kindred mechanical elevatingdevices.

(3 O are a pair of parallel correspondent sprocket wheels, which I termthe upper sprocket wheels, and which are mounted at a desired distanceapart upon a shaft 0, which in the typical construction of Figures 1 and2, now particularly under discussion, happens to be a driving shaft,suitably-housed, conveniently in fixed boxings c, immediately below thedelivery deck.

D D are a pair of parallel correspondent sprocket wheels, which I termthe lower sprocket wheels, preferably counterparts of the sprocketwheels 0 0 and which are mounted at a desired distance apart upon ashaft d, which in the typical construction of Figures 1 and 2 happens tobe a driven shaft suitably housed, conveniently in adjustable boxings dmounted in box guide ways d formed in standards (1 or other baseframework, erected from the magazine deck or otherwise as convenience ofconstruction may dictate, so as to be easily adjustable by means of sucha typical adjusting device as the bolts (1 to take up the slack of theendless sprocket chains B B which are respectively bent upon and drivenby the respective sets of sprocket wheels 0 D and O D In theconstruction represented in Figures 3 to 11 in which, as alreadymentioned, the lower sprocket shaft, designated e is the chain-drivingshaft, and the upper sprocket shaft 0 the driven shaft,-the chain-ad justin g devices are applied to the lower shaft, are particularlyrepresented in Figures 5 and (5, and are of such construction that thedriving shaft e takes its power through a toothed spur wheel 0' mountedupon it and engaging with a counter spur wheel a on a counter shaftwhich I term the motor shaft 0.

In this arrangementthe adjustable boxings d of the driving shaft aremade of segmental form, and are mounted in correspondingsegmentally-formed box guide ways (Z formed in the base framework of thehoist as an entirety and struck upon a radius sprung from the counter ormotor shaft as an axis, and are adjustable by means of such typical adjusting devices as the bolts (1 all as represented in said Figures 5 and6.

This arrangement permits of the adjusting of the chain from the bottomwithout affecting the constant engagement of the toothed spur wheels 0 0which, as explainechimpart the movement to the endless carrier from thecounter or motor shaft 0 Although I prefer to apply the driving andadjusting devices last above described to the lower end of the carrier,it is obvious that they may be applied to the upper end, and it islikewise manifestly true that the equivalent worm-driving gearrepresented in Figures 1 and 2 as applied to the upper end of thecarrier, may, if desired, be applied to the lower end.

E is a loading platform, of any preferred character, disposed inadjacency to the lower portion or receiving end of the carrying chains,over the surface of which the ammunition boxes F are passed for deliveryupon the carrying or hoisting plates 1), which, in any desired manner,are fixedly connected with the endless chains, and which, extendin gtransversely of said chains, are employed in any desired number, afterthe manner of chain buckets, so to speak, to act as the elevatinginstrumentalities of the chain, for the elevation of the ammunitionboxes or other load.

Although the form of the carrying plate is immaterial, and the simplestpossible typical construction is that represented in Figures 1 and 2, Ifind it convenient to make these plates of the form particularly shownin Figures 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 11.

That is to say, I cut away the top or carrying surface of the plate asan entirety in such manner as to form a central opening b so as to causethe plate, in effect, to be constituted by two flat projecting parallelarms, or more strictly, ledges or top shelves, to which the letters I)are applied, and which are adapted in the movement of the chains toreceive the boxes and pass through slots 70, in Figure 10, in thedischarge plate K, hereinafter referred to, and also to pass outside ofthe forwardly projecting delivery plate 6 of the loading platform, asrepresented in Figure 5,-and in which side plates b are provided andrespectively formed with bolt apertures b through which chain bolt-s bto connect the device as a whole with corresponding opposite links ofthe chains, are passed.

The carrying plates are also provided with friction rolls b b to easetheir contact with the guiding plate Gr or other portion of theinclosing casing with respect to or by the aid of which the apparatus asan entirety is erected.

The construction of the loading platform .E is not material, theplatform which I have illustrated in Figure 1 being provided with anupper surface of carrying rolls 6, while that which I have illustratedin Figure 3 is simply a solid-topped platform provided wit-h aprojecting bracket e,-both, however, are preferably provided With aforwardly projecting delivery plate or tongue portion 6 best shown inFigure 5, which the carrying plates in their travel overlap, or passthrough, so to speak.

G is a guide plate located between both sets of sprocket wheels andchains, and formed as a flat plate, way, or kindred bearing surfacesuitably supported upon the front side of the driving and drivensprocket shafts, and extending from the loading platform to about thelevel of the tops of the upper chain Wheels.

This plate is preferably formed with side flanges g, and it serves as arest or guide for the ammunition boxes in their-travel with the chains,and, in conjunction with the timber or other sides M, to form a hoisttube or casing for the hoist as an entirety.

In the construction represented in Figures 1 and 2, the upper sprocketwheel shaft being the driving shaft and the lower a driven shaft,suitable means are provided for the driving of the upper shaft.

The shaft-driving mechanism may be of any preferred character.

I have illustrated as such a mechanism an electric motor H suitablysupported beneath the delivery deck,'and the shaft h of which isprovided with a worm h adapted to engage with a worm wheel 71 upon thedriving chain shaft 0, the entire device being under suitable control,and being conveniently provided with a hand lever h and shaft clutch 714of any preferred character.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 3 to 11 inclusive,and alreadyreferred to, the upper sprocket shaft being the driven shaft, and thelower the driving shaft, the. driving devices are applied to the lowershaft.

I is a hatchway through the delivery deck,

through which the ammunition boxes pass as.

they are elevated by the carrier from the loading platform to saiddelivery deck.

The hatchway may be of any preferred character, and, if desired,provided with the usual covering, and is adapted when the apparatus isnot in use to be closed water-tight by an armored or other scuttleillustrated in place in Figure 8, and conveniently adapted to beretained in place as illustrated in Figure 8, by being provided as toits under side with a swinging hook 1, adapted to take under thesprocket shaft 0 and to be locked securely by the action of a lockingthumb bolt t' adapted to force a swiveled grooved bearing nut & intocontact with said shaft.

J is what I term a baffle plate, the same paratively horizontal positionrepresented in full lines in Figure 1', but inthe ascent of the carrieris adapted to be encountered by each ammunition box in turn, and to bedeflected about its pivot pin into an approximately vertical position inwhich it'r'emains during the period of the passage through the hatchwayof the ammunition box being elevated, gravitating to its normalhorizontal position after the box has completely passed it,'and in suchnormal position serving as a guard to the hatchway to prevent thepossible falling back through it of the elevated ammunition box.

K is what I term a discharge plate, the same being a preferably curvedbearing or directing plate, which, when in the horizontal position whichit occupies when the hoist is in operation, constitutes in effect acontinuation of the guiding plate G, to the delivery deck, and serves toreceive and direct onto said deck the ammunition box as the latter isdelivered by the carrying or hoisting plate of the carrier through thehatchway,

This discharge plate may be of, any preferred construction, a typicallysimpleform being that depicted in Figure 1, and a pre- I ferredconstruction being that illustrated in Figures 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

The plate in its preferred form of application is pivoted with respectto the hatchway upon the descending side of the .chains, by means of apivot or hinge pin 7:, which supports it either in the horizontalposition which it occupies when the hoist is in use, and which isrepresented in full lines in Figures 1, 7, 9, and 10, or in the verticalor depending position which it occupies when the hoist is not in use andthe scuttle is in place within the hatchway as represented in dottedlines in Figure 1, and in full lines in Figure 8.

The pivot pin 70 iskeyed upon the discharge plate and extended throughboxings 70 in the hoist casing. At one of its projecting extremities itis fixedly provided with a hand lever 16 by means of which it is rotatedand the plate raised or lowered, and at the other extremity isconveniently provided with a locking arm 10 rigidly keyed to it and atits outer end provided with a tubularbolt bearing 10 through which aretaining vbolt k is adapted to be passed and entered within a threadedsuitably formed bolt seatlc in the framework.

I In order to equalize the locking of the pivot pin and avoid thepossibility of torsion, the

a tubular bolt bearing k through which a retaining bolt is adapted to bepassed and entered within a threaded bolt seat 70", also formed in theframework.

When the scuttle is removed and the discharge plate elevated into itsoperative position, both retaining bolts are inserted and screwed intotheir seats, and thepivot pin of the plate and the plate therebysecurely locked in position.

Obviously, the foregoing devices for securing the discharge plate in itshorizontal position are simply devices of convenience and may be.replaced by other contrivances operative to the same eifect.

The upper surface of thed'ischarge plate, as already mentioned and aswill be understood by reference to Figure 10, is formed with twolongitudinal p'arallelslots: or openings 70, through which, in thetravel of the chains, the side members 19-, Figures 5, f), and 11, ofthe carrying plate I), pass.

The discharge plate is also at its outer top portion provided with aguard roller 73 11 pon which the ammunition box, in the Operation of thehoist, is deposited by the carrying plate, and over which it rolls as itis forced by said lifting plate laterally forward on to themain carryingsurface of the discharge plate and thence on tothe delivery (leek.

This roller is-not essential but simply serves a useful purpose.

In Figure 3. I have illustrated the application to the throat portion01. at the'foot of the hoist casing N, of a hinged deflecting andrelease plate P, as I term it, Which,-being pivoted upon the hinge pinand normally controlled by springs 13 to occupy the position representedin Figure 3,-is adapted to normally serve asa directing or guide plateto cause the ammunition box to enter the throat portion at of thecasing, should the box, in the movement of the ship, happen to lean ortilt off from the carrier;and which is, moreover, adapted, should thetilting out of" the box occur to such an extent as to cause its upperend to encounter said plate, to yield or turn. about its pivot and foldupward", so to speak,--an action which the yielding of the springsrender possible, -soas to permit of the passage of the box upward to theoutside of the casing, and avoid the-possibility of injury toeither thecasing or the carrier proper.

The form or special mode of application of arrangement represented inFigures 3 and l isa good: one.

While I have represented the-carrier as an entirety at a slightlyinclined. position it is obvious that it would be operative in avertical position or at a different angle from that represented.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1'. In an ammunition hoistfor ships, the following elements in combination :-an endless carriercontinuously operated in one direction and provided with carrying orhoisting plates fixedly applied to it and traveling continuously withit;means for actuating the carrier and its applied plates to continuoustravel in one di-rection;-means located near the bottom of the carrierfor supplym-g toits upwardly-moving carrying plates articlies tobehoistedg-a hatchway at the upper for supplying to its carrying platesarticles to. be hoisted;-a hatchway at the upper end i of said carrier;a discharge plate applied to said hatchway and operating to receive thearticles elevated by the carrierg-and a baflie plate applied to saidhatchway opposite to said discharge mate -substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. In an ammunition hoist for ships, the following elementsin-combinationw-an endless carrier provided with hoisting or carryingplatesg-a casing for said carrier provided with a deflecting and releaseplatc;means for actuating the carrierg-means located near the bottom ofthe carrier forsupplying to itscarrying platesarticles to be hoisted;

' plates;-a casing for said carrier rovided with a deflecting andrelease plate;-means for actuating the carrier;means. located near thebottom of the carrier for supplying to its carryi-n g plates articlesto-be hoisted a hatchway at the upper end-of said carrier; a dischargeplate applied to said hatchway and operating to receive the articleselevated by the carrier;-and a baffle plate applied to said hatchwayopposite to said discharge plate ;-substantially as and for the purposespecified. this deflecting plateis not essential, but the i followingelements in combination:an endllesscarrier provided with carryingor-hoisting plates ;-means for actuating the carrier-;a loading platformat the base of the 5. In an ammunition hoist for ships, the

carrier, which cooperates with the carrying or hoisting plates to supplythem with articlesto be hoisted ;--a hatchway at the upper end of saidcarrier ;a discharge plate applied to saidhatchwa-y upon thedelivery'side of the carrier, which operates to receive the plate applied to saidhatchway opposite to said discharge plate;substantially as set forth.

6. In an ammunition hoist for ships, the following elements incombination :-an endless chain carrier composed of a pair of parallelchains provided with transversely-extending carrying or hoistingplates;means for actuating the carrier;-means located near the bottom ofthe carrier for supplying to its carrying plates articles to beh0isted;- a transversely-disposed guiding plate extending longitudinallyof the carrier between its edges;a hatchway at the upper end of saidcarrier ;and a discharge plate applied to said hatchway, forming acontinuation of said guide plate, and operating to receive the articleslifted by the carrier;-substantial1y as and for the purpose specified.

7. In an ammunition hoist for ships, the following elements incombination:an endless carrier provided with carrying or hoisting plates;-means for actuating the carrier;means located near the bottom of thecarrier for supplying to its carrying plates articles to be hoisted;ahatchway at the upper end of said carrier;a discharge plate applied tosaid hatchway which is adapted to be, at will, removed for theapplication of a scuttle to close the hatchway;and a removable scuttleadapted to close said hatchway when the discharge plate is dropped;substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In an ammunition hoist for-ships, the following elements incombination :an endless carrier provided with carrying or hoistingplates ;means for actuating the carrier;means located near the bottom ofthe carrier for supplying to its carrying plates articles to be hoisted;a hatchway at the upper end of said carrier ;a pivot-ed discharge plateapplied to said hatchway which is adapted to be, at will, dropped forthe application of a scuttle to close the hatchway;means for maintainingthe discharge plate in its elevated position ;and a removable scuttleadapted to close said hatchway when the discharge plate isdropped;substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In an ammunition hoist for ships, the

following elements in combination :a pair of parallel counterpartendless chains constituting an endless carrier;counterpart pairs ofdriving and driven chain wheels for supporting and driving saidchains;--means for driving the chain wheels ;-a hatchway at the upperend of the chain carrier ;a discharge plate applied to said hatchway;and a transversely-disposed carrying or hoisting plate connected withcorresponding opposite portions of said chains ;-the arrangement beingsuch'that one of said plates embodies an opening and the other isprovided with a bearing surface substantially corresponding in plan withsaid opening ;-substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntosigned my name this 24th day of March, A. D. 1897.

IVESLEY RHODES.

